This year we will only be able to garden in containers on our patio. I have been watching the suns patterns and for the most part it is partial shade and shade.I have never tried to do such a limited garden and have always loved to grow and eat from our garden. I would love any and all ideas and suggestions for what to plant that will do well and produce this spring in partial shade and in containers. Thanks.
I live in a Senior Estates and some people do container gardening on their patios. Tomatoes you can now hang (Like wind chimes) in those new Topsey Turvey Containers. They also work for cucumbers. Then Strawberry Pots are great for growing herbs on your Patio...that is what I use and it works really well. Green beans and peas you can run string from your overhang to the ground and run your beans and peas up those. They actually look very pretty when they flower and then start to grow. I also have gotten oblong planters two and planted veggies in those and any round pot works for numerous things. We do have a garden for the seniors but a lot of people don't want to plant that much. I only grow herbs on my patio because I use the boxed community garden for most of my veggies and just grow flowers on my patio. Hope that helps a little bit. I am sure others will have more suggestions.
Most lettuces and spinach will do really well in containers in the partial shade. Not very many other veggies like shade. I have a shaded porch and I grow ferns in hanging baskets and they love the shade. I also have a shaded Hosta garden. My vegetables are all in the full sun. I hope some other farmgirls know what else will grow in shade.
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult. - E. B. White
Check the seed catalogs. Most of them will tell you if they are recomended for containers and the sun requirements. I don't do containers because they require so much attention and water. In the very hot summer and if the wind is blowing, I have to water twice a day. And try and move the pot INTO the shade. Good luck.
The book Square Foot Gardening has a section about container gardening. I'm sure your local library could be a huge resource. I have had lots of success with lettuces in 6 inch pots and potatoes in 5 gallon buckets.
Farmgirl Sister #1438
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important?
Potatoes....I've been planting mine in empty feed bags and they're easy to grow, easy to harvest, and don't take much space. You can have a lot of fun with the fingerling varieties too!
"Women are angels...and if someone breaks our wings...we fly on our brooms...we're flexible like that!" -Unknown
My husband is building me something like a lettuce table to do greens in this year. I do most everything in containers: tomatoes, green beans, peppers, herbs, blueberries. It's amazing what you can do in containers!
?ideas for limited patio gardening?
Posted - Jan 06 2011 : 10:23:39 PM
